ONE of Britain’s best-known women judges is being investigated for allegedly lying to police during the Chris Huhne speeding points inquiry, a court heard yesterday.

Constance Briscoe was arrested on suspicion of giving false information as police investigated whether or not Huhne transferred penalty points to his then wife Vicky Pryce.

Pryce’s trial heard yesterday that the doubt led prosecutors to avoid calling her as a witness in the case against the couple.

The jury heard Pryce and Miss Briscoe, 55, a friend, “cooked up a plan” to make public details of how Huhne arranged to load his points on to his wife’s driving licence.

They joined forces to expose the scam in newspapers almost 10 years after it happened, London’s Southwark Crown Court was told.

But Det Insp Martin Passmore said Miss Briscoe’s alleged dishonesty came when she was asked about her contact with journalists.

His evidence was read to the court by prosecutor Andrew Edis in an attempt to explain why certain key people in the case have not been called as witnesses.

Det Insp Passmore said: “Ms Briscoe has provided statements to the police in this case but during the investigation it became apparent that she may have lied about her involvement with the press.

“Ms Pryce has not been arrested or interviewed in relation to that allegation.”

He said Ms Briscoe had been arrested and was currently under investigation by the police.

The officer said the Crown Prosecution Service decided last October against calling her to give evidence because she could “no longer be relied upon as a witness of truth”.

Greek-born Pryce, 60, a former Government economist, of Clapham, south London, denies perverting the course of justice by taking Huhne’s points.

Although she admits accepting them, she claims he forced her to do it and is using the legal defence of “marital coercion” to deny the charge.

Constance Briscoe allegedly helped Vicky Pryce to leak a version of the Huhne points scam

The two appear to have cooked up a plan to go and see the press about Huhne and taking points

Prosecutor Andrew Edis

Millionaire ex-Energy Secretary Huhne, 58, admitted his part in the scam by pleading guilty to the same charge and will be sentenced later. His resignation as the Lib Dem MP for Eastleigh, Hants, after his plea led to tomorrow’s by-election.

The points switch – to spare Huhne being banned from driving – came after his car was caught speeding on the M11 in 2003.

But Pryce only exposed it after he left her for his bisexual aide Carina Trimingham.

Mr Edis said on Monday that Miss Briscoe, a barrister and part-time judge, was a friend and neighbour of Pryce and became a closer friend after the break-up of Pryce’s marriage.

He said: “The two appear to have cooked up a plan to go and see the press about Huhne and taking points.”

The women first tried to leak a story that he had passed the points to an aide, Jo White, but Miss White does not have a licence, Mr Edis said.

He said the story was that Miss White took points for Huhne when he had nine points.

“Well, of course, that was a complete lie because the person who took points for Huhne when he had nine points was her,” he added.

Pryce’s trial, her second after a first jury were unable to reach a verdict, continues today.